Show-case.



No. 7l3,534. Patented Nov. Il, |902.

E. C. THURNAU.

SHOW CASE.

(Application filed May 26, 1902.)

(N0 Modal.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

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Patented Nov. Il, |902. E. C. THURNAU.

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(No Model.)

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N0.V7|3,534. Patented Nov. |902.

E. c. THuBNAu.

SHOW CASE.

(Application tiled May 2B, 1902.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 713,534, dated November 11, 1902.

Application filed May 26, 1902 Serial No. 109,046. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that i, EDWARD C. THURNAU, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Show-Cases; andi do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a novel construction in an extensible show-case, the object being to provide a device of this character which can be readily built up and added to at any time in a very simple manner; and it consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure l is a perspective view of a show-case constructed in accordance with myinvention,the ornamental molding around the base being removed. Fig. 2 is a plan section of saine on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse section of same on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. el is a fragmeutarydetail section, on an enlarged scale, on the line et 4- of Fig. Fig. 5 is a similar section on the line 5 5 of 2, showing;` the manner of building one section of show-case above another.

My device is similar in a certain respect to the sectional bookcases now so generally used, which are built up of socalled units77 to any desired height or width. To adapt this scheme to show-cases obviously offers many difticult problems not presented by the bookcases.`

My device consists of a base A, to the four corners of which posts B are secured, each consisting of a square tube. Each of the posts B on the forward corners of the base is provided in one face with a longitudinal slot C, adapted to receive the ends of the glass D, forming the front wall of the case. Said base A is provided at its ends with recesses adapted to receive additional tubes B' and B", which are secured together and to said posts B and the base A, said tubes B being provided in one wall with longitudinal slots adapted to receive the panes D, forming the side walls of the case. The said glass walls D are mounted in metallic frames E, the said frames being enlarged and of tubular form at the short edges of the panes, so as to closely tit within the tubesB and prevent rattling. The adjacent inner faces of the rear posts B are provided with short recesses at their upper ends to receive lugs F on the ends of a bar G, to which the door His hinged. The framing of the pane D, forming the front Wall of the case, is provided along the upper edge of said pane with an inwardly-projecting flange I, adapted to support the forward edge of the pane J, forming the top of the case, or a shelf within the case, if the latter is extended upwardly, the rear edge of said pane J being supported upon a similar flange secured to the bar G. The said corner-posts B are secured in the base in any suitable manner to maintain their rigidity, and the portions B' and B" are so set into said base that they project beyond the latter a distance equal to one-half the diameter of one of the tubes.

l will hereinafter term the base A and the above described parts mounted thereon a unit.

iVhere a single unit is used, strips K and L, of molding, are secured tothe front and side edges of the base A, such strips serving to give same a finished appearance in an obvious manner.

Should it be desired to extend the showcase lengthwise, the strips of molding L are removed and an additional base set end to end with the base of the lirst unit and correspending in every way therewith. The posts B of the latter base are secured to the posts B' in any convenient manner-as,forinstance, by means of buttons M on the posts B entering keyhole-slots N in the adjacent faces of the posts B'. Any number of units may thus be united to form a show-case of any desired length, and such units may be built up to any desired height in the following manner:

Each of the posts B forms a socket to receive the square shank O of an extension member P, the latter carrying a member Q, adapted to form anextension of the tube B of each corner-post. Members forming extensions of the posts B may be secured to the member P in any suitable manner. By the insertion of additional panes in the extension IOO members and the addition of the doors the show-case can obviously be enlarged to any desired height.

To give the case a more iinished appeal'- ance, corner-plates R, having shanks S, are mounted in the upper ends of the posts B or the extensions thereof.

I have avoided specilic description and illustration of minordetails of construction-such as particular means for securing the posts B, B', and B" in the bases A and firmly securing the shanks O in the posts B', &c.-as such details are of minor importance and may be changed and varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The metal framing of the glass makes the latter act to rmly brace the corner-posts in an obvious manner.

I have shown and prefer to use a base having an inclined upper face and to lay the tops parallel therewith, for the reason that if the case is built up to any considerable height it will bring more of the contents into View than if the base and shelves were perfectly horizontal.

I claim as my inventionl. A show-case comprising a base, posts mounted thereon,longitudinalrecesses in said posts, adapted to receive the glass walls, metallic-framed glass adapted to be mounted in said posts, and devices on the framing of said glass adapted to support the top of the case.

2. The combination with a base provided with corner posts having longitudinal recesses, of metallic-framed glass walls adapted to enter said recesses, a bar spanning two of said posts, a door hinged to said bar, and projections on the framing of the glass and on said bar adapted to support a glass top.

3. An extensible show-case comprising a base, corner-posts on said base each consisting of a plurality of tubes set side by side, longitudinal slots in some of said tubes adapted to receive the glass walls of the case and a support for a swinging door, devices on said glass Walls and said support for supporting the glass top, similar corner-posts provided with shanks adapted to tit telescopically within one of the tubes comprising each of the iirst-named corner-posts adapted to be mounted in the latter and receive a second set of glass walls and a support for a swinging door, said second set of glass walls and support being similarly provided with devices for supporting a glass top.

4. An extensible show-case comprising a plurality of bases adapted to be set end to end and each provided with tubular cornerposts, a longitudinal slot in each of the forward cornerposts adapted to receive the panes forming the front wall of the case, a recess in each of the rear corner-posts adapted to receive a support for the swinging door, a tubular member adapted to be secured to the outermost corner-posts of the end bases of a row, and interposed between adjacent cornerposts of adjacent members, a longitudinal slot in each of the last-named members adapted-to receive the end and dividing walls of the case, and devices on said walls of said case and on said supports for the swinging doors for supporting panes forming the glass top of the case.

5. An extensible show-case comprising a plurality of bases adapted to be set end to end and each provided with tubular cornerposts, a longitudinal slot in each of the forward corner-posts adapted to receive the panes forming the front wall of the case, a recess in each of the rear corner-posts adapted to receive a support for the swinging door, a tubular member adapted to be secured to the outermost corner-posts of the end bases of a row, and interposed between adjacent corner-posts of adjacent members, a longitudinal slot in each of the last-named members adapted to receive the end and dividing walls of the case, devices on said walls of said case and on said supports for the swinging doors for supporting panes forming the top of the case, and means for building up said case comprising corner-post members corresponding in shape and construction with said corner-posts and the tubular members secured thereto and provided with Shanks adapted to enter the latter to support said last-named members thereon, said last-named cornerpost members being adapted to receive additional sets of panes, duc., to build up said case, substantially as described.

6. In a show-case, the combination with a base having tubular corner-posts provided with longitudinal slots, of metallic-framed glass adapted to enter said slots, the framing of said glass at the ends thereof being enlarged to snugly t said tubular posts, whereby said glass is held against longitudinal movement.

7. In a show-case, the combination with a base'provided with rigid tubular corner-posts having longitudinal recesses for the reception of glass walls, and recesses in the ends of said base adjacent said corner-posts, of double tubular members removably secured to and adapted to form a part of said corner-posts and lying partially within said recesses, lougitudinal slots in one portion of each of said members adapted to receive glass walls, and molding-strips removably secured to the ends of said base and provided with recesses adapted to receive the projecting portions of said removable portions of said corner-posts.

8. In an extensible show-case, the combination with a plurality of bases, each provided with corner-posts and recesses in the ends of said bases adjacent said corner-posts, of devices adapted to receive the end and partition walls of the show-case adapted to be removably secured to the corner-posts of each of said bases and extend into each of said recesses, and molding-strips removably secured to the outer ends of the endmost bases and provided with recesses adapted to receive the projecting portions of said devices receivi ing the end walls of said case.

IIO

9. In an extensible' show-case, the combination of a plurality of units, each consisting of a base provided with corner-posts adapted to receive the front wall and door members, of removable post members adapted to be secured to said corner-posts and to receive the end Walls of said members, said removable post members being adapted to be interposed between and secured to each two adjacent corner-posts of adjacent units and thereby secure said units together to form a continuous case.

10. In an extensible show-case, the combination of a plurality of units, each consisting of a base provided with corner-posts adapted to receive the front wall and door members, of removable post members adapted to be secured to said corner-posts and to receive the end walls of' said members, said removable post members being adapted to be interposed between and secured to each two adjacent corner-posts of adjacent units and thereby secure said units together to form a continuous case, and means for extending said case in height comprising post members adapted to be mounted upon said corner-posts and removable post members and forming eXtensions thereof, and adapted to receive additional front and side Walls and door members, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD C. THURNAU. Witnesses:

RUDOLPH W. LOTZ, WM. B. SNowHooK. 

